The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-12-27
THE PRESS GALLERY.
The Washington Newspaper Men.
The Rotations They Maintain 10
the Senate and House.
The Unwritten Code of Ethics That
Exists Among Them,
Rigid requirements of tho Press
ColAmittee as to Character.
Short Sketches OF the Most Notable
Membors OF the Corpc--1ne
Brightest Lot OF Men
IN America.
srccInl nL.nnlch To Tho Arr.nl.

Special Dispatch lo the Appeal
WNsmNGroN, Dec. 26.- over 100 ac-
credited newspaper correspondents aud
reporters will bo admitted to the reporters
galleries Of the Senate and House IN tho
fiiticth Congress. This il the largest
number that has ever passed the scrutiny
Of ,ho press committee who consider the
applications and credentials of corresponds
cuts.
The requirements Tor admission Ia the
reporters galleries have been considerable
restricted. Just before the Filticth Con-
grcSs convened thcrc was mass meeting
oi the professional writer's who apply Tor
admission to the galleries, when what is
known aS the press committee was selected.
This committee act, In conjunction With
the chairman ol The committee on rnlcs in
the Senate and the speaker OF the llouso
OF Representatives, aud make mp two dis
tmct press committees, one iur either
branch of Cougrss
II ], necessary at the conycning oi each
session for every man who * admitNd to
the galleries 10 make application for card.
In his application the correspondent gives
the name oi the paper hc represents, tho
number oi times IN each week it is pub
lishrd and the location II the publishing
office. l'csdcs this lao declares that lac is
not engaged In the prosecution nj any
claims hciorc Congress; that he is not In
tcps.cd in any pending legislation, and Is
not an cmployc ol the government
During the last Congress It was discoy-
cpd that thcrc or four men, Who Ncw all
mittcd to tho reporters galleries, were in
tcrSiiug themselves either In legislation
pouding before Congress or furnishing IN
formation from tho departments aud the
Whitc.houc ior the prosecution oi claims.
etc The object in requiring applicants
for cards Of admission to the galleries to
state specifically that they are not inter-
cslcd iu any measure hclur Congress, and
ar' not employed undor the government.
Is "a keep out ui the space sct nsi'lo ior
| professional writers class NJ men who ,lu
| not make livelihood solely hy writing lor
! the press.
The prrss committee Of iis iir-t meeting
! In this Cungrs.. took into consideration
! changes which Wprr Hlrd uuniust rnrrc-
| spuudrnls Who were Interested in I,ndiug
| legislation, 90 Who WyV engaged in the
! claim agency business, unl after dohbcri.
! ton rejected their applications inr udmis.
| sion tu the galleries The committee nlsp
! concluded tu ric,t the application ut at
/
mprplrf,innn acts. There g. an unWtit.
! ten code ul ethics among the yurWsplnd.
emit. here Just ~ high and us strictly ad-
hopd a. as wW ever sct up among doCors.
| hWycr, and other professional men. This
correspondent hnd sonl circulars a. editions
! Throughout tltu country proposing Ia iur-
/ uish dispatches and lritpr, lum Washing.
tUn ior prices not unlN lif below the lowest
! hrIu1 paid but which dcrrd,l reputable
! corn respondents. lu lgri, This man offered
/ tp dU work at such rates that would not
! have paid ipr the actual manual labor oi
| cUpyi-i. and the only manner In which
! hc could do this was by omploying
/ Young men Who d.sind a. learn the news
paper business without compensation. lla
| Is IN thc hnhii oi advertising lor Young
men Who do.irr a. enter thc pmiD- ion oi
| journalism, Hui respondents tu hI, adNcr-
/ ti-Umruis arr informed that they ,1i lake
u course ui instruction under linn iur six
month. or 70 year without paw ami, ui the
end ui that time, they UIn shit iur tlrm-
selves Ills journalistic uD'lypu hH|rs about
the same relation a. the u'grlHr profession
as thr medical college ui thr ,.'ulntcI
Dr. buchanan did tp the UgulIr profession
ul medicine. lsssr, this. which would
handy constitute l bar, hr i-auUl rirulars
Offering tp represent claimants .u dirct
tuN ris#. which Nus decidedly AGAINST tha
rules. and further, it b. charged. that ha
utlmuirl very broadly to q government
rmployu that hr could make very com-
Portable sum of money II be- would 1id in
securing certain contract for one oi his
ltho correspondents friends
II iH absolutely essential lur thr honor q
the profession in Washington that iho cur
respondents should be- above suspicion iu
every usppct, aud Tor this reason thu pp'ss
committee is rigid IN iia requirements that
~ man who is likely to receive ur give 4
hr.by ipr any selfish purpose should hayo
tho uutryc ol the seats reserved lur Wpuia-
blc WriiHn.
Asa body the newspaper cnrrrsp sp0ndcnis
Oi Washington talr The highest Eink in
the profession In the United States. A
large majority oi them uU young mon
rent lCr from the home onIcr oi papers
they represent, aud are regularly trained
Journalists, but there urc q few Who have
been IN Newspaper row ever since the var.
Since the death Ol the well known Maj.
Ben pcrcy rpor, who WIS thv lcknowl-
edged dean Ut the profession, aud who
oprnrd an office Ia Washington long be-
iurt the agitation Of the abolition Of
slavery began in real earnest, Gen. II. v.
lloyntun, 0i the Cincinnati Commercial
Gu.dfs, has been recognized as the leader.
lie Is chairman Of the pre- committee,
and probably wiclds q wider influence
over the cor,s Of correspondents Than any
man In q. Ten li0yuion is about iliiy-
fyc years Of agp; is little below tho
average hight. weighs pw'uhly i35
pounds. las a full bcar1, about nno-thiri
gray, aud Is slightly deaf. he Is one Of
the most fluent wulcn IN tlc country,
and brings the aggressive qualities which
characterized his service In lllc army TO
his desk ON Newspaper row.
Mai. John VI. Canon, who reprcscnts
the Philadelphia LoigJr aud rujoys con-
Rdcntinl relations eth Gcouey ". Childs.
l. tho second member Of lhc pprs COM
miltcc. lie s about the agr ol Gen.
loyn,on. Is fully six feet Ia highl weighs
lcs than LOO pounds, woau short side